Menses collector

ABSTRACT

The menses collector includes a plurality of superposed rows of collecting cups which are supported by and empty into a central collecting conduit which is open at the top and has a discharge valve at the lower end thereof.

Umted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,841,333

Zalucki 1451 061. 15, 1974 [5 MENSES COLLECTOR 2,613,670 10/1952SOkOlllfi 128/285 [76] Inventor: Kazimim Zalucki, 7 Hob/eke St"3,157,180 1l/l964 Bakumn 128/285 Easthampton Mass' 02027 PrimaryExaminerAldrich F. Meclbery Filed; JBII- 1974 Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Shlesinger, Arkwright,

1211 Appl. No.: 431,543 Garvey Dmsm'e 1521 11.3. C1. 128/285, 128/263[57] MfSTRACT 1511 161. (:1. A611 13/20 1116 menses collector Includes Pof p 1581 Field 61 Search..... 128/285, 270, 263, 127-131 posed rows ofcollecting p which are supported by and empty into a central collectingconduit which is [56] R f r n Cit d open at the top and has a dischargevalve at the lower UNITED STATES PATENTS- end Chalmers 128/285 18Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED I 3.841.333

SIEU 1 0f 2 Pmmmm 1 5% 3.841333 SHE! 213! 2 ll 30 r2 20 BACKGROUND OFINVENTION This invention relates to menstrual collector devices, andparticularly to a type of device which permits repeated usage during theentire period of menstrual flow without replacement or handling of theunit.

Within the last ten to fifteen years there have been considerableadvances made in the types of devices used for collection of menstrualflow. The basic sanitary napkin has been improved considerably, andtampon type of devices introduced which are more effective and lessrestricting than earlier devices. However, all of these devices have thedrawback of requiring replacement when they have absorbed their limitedcapacity of menstrual fluids.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has as itsprincipal object the overcoming of this disadvantage by providing adevice which can be used throughout the entire period of menstrual flowwithout need for change or handling. Further, the device is made of softmaterial and is inserted completely into the vagina without causingdiscomfort, and making it possible for the user to conduct normal dailyactivities without inconvenience.

The device is constructed with a valve mechanism which permits the userto conveniently drain the unit without removal by merely releasing aflow valve thereon.

Besides being convenient and simple to use, the device can bemanufactured economically, and can be used repeatedly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the devicepartially in section.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device shown compressed within theinsertion tube.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the collector cups.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 55 of FIG. 1 showing the path ofmenses flow within the device.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5 illustrating theconstruction of the cup and conduit structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring particularly to the drawings,FIG. 1 illustrates the device which is made of very pliable and softrubber or plastic, showing the plurality of superposed rows of cups 20,22, 24, 26, and 28 and their arrangement about the central collectingconduit 30. The upper end 31 of the conduit 30 is open to directlyreceive longitudinal menses flow. The passageway can also be flaredoutwardly at thispoint to more effectively receive longitudinal flow. Arelatively rigid discharge tube 32 is disposed at the lower end of thecentral conduit 30 and has an outwardly flared valve seat at the lowerend thereof. A spherical ball valve 36 seats within the discharge tubevalve seat 34 and is held in position by resilient seal return bands 38connected to the ball valve 36 at the lower end and to the dischargetube itself at their upper end.

The ball valve has a valve release cord 40 attached to its lower end,and the discharge tube 32 has a cord pull 41 attached to its lower end.

As shown in FIG. 2, the device can be compressed and fitted within therigid storage and insertion tube 42. The collector device is loadedwithin the tube from the top by partially inserting it therein and thenpulling on the cord pull 41 to move the device down through the tube tothe position shown in dotted outline in FIG. 2.

The arrangement and structure of the collecting cup rows is shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. The structure and arrangement of the cups of each of therows are the same and for illustration purposes, cup 44 which isdisposed between adjacent cups 46 and 48 will be described. Each cup hasa concave arcuate outer wall supported by side walls 50. The side wallare directly connected to the central conduit 30 along the inner edges52 thereof. The conduit 30 has a bellows-like configuration and as seenin FIG. 4, the periphery 52 has a serrated conflguration with alternatetriangular indentations 54 and triangular protrusions 56. The lower endof each cup is attached to the conduit along the lower edge 58 thereof.

Adjacent each cup the central conduit 30 has an inlet port 60 throughwhich the menses flows into the conduit. The dotted lines indicate themanner in which the collecting cup side walls 50 flex when the conduit30 is longitudinally compressed.

The arrangement of the conduit inlet openings is such that there isdirect flow from each of the individual cups directly into the centralcollecting conduit.

The actual shape of the opening is best illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein aside view of the conduit inlet ports 64 and 66 is shown. A direct faceview of the inlet port 60 of cup 44 illustrates that the opening isrectangular in appearance when directly viewed along a radial line andthat the lower edge of the inlet ports 68 extends down to the bottom ofthe cup adjacent a point where the lower section of the cup isintegrally connected to the central collecting conduit.

The manner in which the device collects and dis charges the menses fluidcan be seen with reference to the sectional view of the device shown inFIG. 5. The longitudinal flow along the vagina enters the centralcollecting conduit and the upper open large intake end 31, passingdirectly downwardly through the collecting conduit. Flow adjacent theside of the device enters the cups at the top thereof shown at 72 andflows downwardly and through the inlet ports and into the centralcollecting conduit as shown by the arrows 74. The fluid collects withinthe collector cavity 76 within the upper portion of the discharge tube32 disposed above the ball valve 36. The ball valve 36 is held in theupper sealed position against the discharge tube valve seat byvOPERATlON FIG. 2 shows the manner in which the device is stored in aready-to-use condition. The device is made of soft rubber and is packedwithin the insertion tube 42 which is a cylindrical piece of plastic ormetal having a diameter which will permit the tube itself to be easilyinserted within the vaginal cavity, while being of sufficiently largedimension cross-sectionally to permit the collector device itself, whichis made of soft rubber or plastic, to be readily collapsed and fittedwithin the tube. This is effected by pulling the collector device downinto and through the tube by the cord pull lil attached to the lower endof the collector conduit. The assembly is tightly packed so that afterthe tube has been inserted into position in the vaginal cavity, a slightpush on the lower end of the collector unit will only be necessary tomove the upper end of the collector tube with row out of the tube intoexpanded position. Then a slight pull on the tube will remove it whileleaving the collector unit within the cavity in an expanded position(FIG. l) where the rows of cups engage the side walls of the vaginalcavity to hold it in position.

The flow will be collected both longitudinally through the open end 31of the collecting conduit and laterally through the rows of cups. Theflow, as shown in FIG. 6, will collect down in the bottom section 76 ofthe collecting conduit. When an accumulation of menstrual fluid isobtained in the device, the device is drained by merely pulling thevalve release cord 4% to pull the ball valve 36 to the lower position sothat the fluids are discharged out of the lower end of the dischargetube 32 around the lowered ball valve 36 as shown at 78. When thecollector device has been emptied the cord is merely released and theball valve returns to its initial upper position because of the pull ofthe resilient return bands 38. The ball valve 36 is pulled up intocontact with the flared discharge tube valve seat section 34,effectively sealing the lower end of the central collecting conduit.

e to The conduit inlet ports at are sufficiently lar permit passage ofclots and menstrual fluid to the central collecting conduit. The valveopening is sufficiently large to permit this material to pass out of thelower end of the discharge tube 32.

Since the collector device is made sterile plexirubber or soft plasticwhich is very pliable, it will readily conform to the shape of thevagina and be uncomfortable after insertion.

The collector device can be cleaned simply with soap and water andreused. Preferably, the device should be repacked within the insertiontube after use. Since it is possible to use the collector device forsubsequent menstrual periods, substantial economies over present methodscan be effected.

While the invention has been described, it will be understood that it iscapable of further modifications, and this application is intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following ingeneral the principles of the invention and including such departuresfrom the present disclosure as come within known or customary practicein the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to theessential features hereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scopeof the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A menses collector, comprising:

a. a plurality of superposed cups made of pliable material dimensionedto fit within the vaginal cavity,

b. a central collecting conduit extending axially of the cups andintegrally connected thereto,

c. an inlet port associated with each of the cups to permit the contentsthereof to drain into the central collecting conduit,

d. discharge valve means disposed at the lower end of the centralcollecting conduit for permitting drainage of menstrual fluid from theconduit while the collector is in position within the vagina.

2. The menses collector as set forth in claim 1,

wherein:

a. a plurality of cups are radially disposed about the collector conduitforming axially spaced rows of collector cups.

3. The menses collector as set forth in claim l,

20 wherein:

a. the central collecting conduit has a corrugated collapsibleconfiguration and is made of soft resilient material permitting it tocompress both radially nd axially.

4. The menses collector as set forth in claim l,

wherein:

a. the valve means includes a retractable sealing element disposed atthe lower end of the central collecting conduit and biased into asealing position with respect thereto,

h. pull means attached to the valve means for open ing the valve topermit discharge of fluids from the central collecting conduit.

3g The menses collector as set forth in claim 3,

wherein:

a. the central collecting conduit includes an outwardly flared circularvalve seat,

b. the retractable sealing element is a separate movable element havinga surface which fits into sealing engagement within the valve seat,

pull means is integrally connected to the movab e sealing element.

menses collector as set forth in claim 5,

s ing element is a. ball, lit is a length of flexible cord.

collector as set forth in claim 1,

antral collecting conduit has an elongated rel rigid discharge tubedisposed at the lower e tube has an outwardly flared circular meansincludes a ball valve having resilearn bands connected thereto at oneend 6O discharge tube at the other end for resiliently b asing the ballvalve in sealed position ie valve seat,

0. elonga d flexible pull means is connected to the ball valve at thelower end thereof to permit the user to unseat the ball valve from thevalve seat to drainage of the central collecting conduit tube.

ills? 9. The menses collector as set forth in claim 1,

wherein:

a. the central conduit has an open large intake at the top thereof. 10.The menses collector as set forth in claim 1,

wherein:

wherein:

a. the insertion means includes a rigid cylindrical tube ofsubstantially the same length as the central collecting conduit,

b. the lower end of the central collecting conduit has depending pullmeans integrally connected thereto for loading the collector devicewithin the insertion tube.

12. A menses collector, comprising:

a. elongated circular cross section collector conduit means forreceiving and storing menstrual fluids which is dimensioned to beinserted within the vaginal passage and to extend a major portion of thelength thereof,

b. the collector conduit being made of soft resilient pliable materialand being open at the top thereof for receiving menstrual fluiddischarged at a point above the top of the collector conduit,

c. an elongated rigid discharge tube disposed at the lower end of thecollector conduit means which is dimensioned to permit passage ofmenstrual fluid and entrained matter,

d. the discharge tube having a length which is a substantial percentageof the length of the collector conduit and has a width of substantiallyless cross section than that of the collector conduit,

e. a plurality of circumferentially disposed lateral flow receivingmeans disposed along the length of the collector conduit means forpassing menstrual fluid into the interior thereof,

f. discharge valve means disposed at the lower end of the discharge tubefor sealing the lower end of the discharge tube and permitting drainageof menstrual fluid therefrom while the menses collector is in positionwithin the vagina.

13. The menses collector of claim 12, wherein:

a. the flow receiving means includes a plurality of superposed rows ofcups.

14. The menses collector of claim 13, wherein:

a. each row includes a plurality of separate radially disposed adjoiningcups.

l5. Tl-le menses collector of claim 12, wherein:

a. the collecting conduit has a corrugated collapsible configuration,

b. the flow receiving means is a series of inlet ports cut through thecollecting conduit.

16. The menses collector as set forth in claim 12,

wherein:

a. the collector includes insertion means for facilitating insertion ofthe collector within the vaginal cavity and comprises a rigidcylindrical tube of substantially the same length as the collectingconduit means discharge.

17. The menses collector as set forth in claim 12,

wherein:

a. the discharge tube has an outwardly flared valve seat at the lowerend thereof,

b. the valve means includes a retractable sealing element disposed atthe lower end of the discharge tube and biased into sealing positionwith respect to the valve seat.

18. The menses collector as set forth in claim 16,

wherein:

a. the lower end of the discharge tube is an outwardly flared circularsection which comprises the valve seat,

b. the valve means includes a ball valve having resiland the dischargetube.

1. A menses collector, comprising: a. a plurality of superposed cups made of pliable material dimensioned to fit within the vaginal cavity, b. a central collecting conduit extending axially of the cups and integrally connected thereto, c. an inlet port associated with each of the cups to permit the contents thereof to drain into the central collecting conduit, d. discharge valve means disposed at the lower end of the central collecting conduit for permitting drainage of menstrual fluid from the conduit while the collector is in position within the vagina.
 2. The menses collector as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. a plurality of cups are radially disposed about the collector conduit forming axially spaced rows of collector cups.
 3. The menses collector as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the central collecting conduit has a corrugated collapsible configuration and is made of soft resilient material permitting it to compress both radially and axially.
 4. The menses collector as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the valve means includes a retractable sealing element disposed at the lower end of the central collecting conduit and biased into a sealing position with respect thereto, b. pull means attached to the valve means for opening the valve to permit discharge of fluids from the central collecting conduit.
 5. The menses collector as set forth in claim 4, wherein: a. the central collecting conduit includes an outwardly flared circular valve seat, b. the retractable sealing element is a separate movable element having a surface which fits into sealing engagement within the valve seat, c. the pull means is integrally conneCted to the movable sealing element.
 6. The menses collector as set forth in claim 5, wherein: a. the sealing element is a ball, b. the pull means is a length of flexible cord.
 7. The menses collector as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the central collecting conduit has an elongated relatively rigid discharge tube disposed at the lower end of the collecting conduit, b. the valve means is disposed on the lower end of the discharge tube.
 8. The menses collector as set forth in claim 7, wherein: a. the discharge tube has an outwardly flared circular valve seat, b. the valve means includes a ball valve having resilient seal return bands connected thereto at one end and to the discharge tube at the other end for resiliently biasing the ball valve in sealed position against the valve seat, c. elongated flexible pull means is connected to the ball valve at the lower end thereof to permit the user to unseat the ball valve from the valve seat to permit drainage of the central collecting conduit and the discharge tube.
 9. The menses collector as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the central conduit has an open large intake at the top thereof.
 10. The menses collector as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the collector includes insertion means for facilitating insertion of the collector means within the vaginal cavity.
 11. The menses collector as set forth in claim 10, wherein: a. the insertion means includes a rigid cylindrical tube of substantially the same length as the central collecting conduit, b. the lower end of the central collecting conduit has depending pull means integrally connected thereto for loading the collector device within the insertion tube.
 12. A menses collector, comprising: a. elongated circular cross section collector conduit means for receiving and storing menstrual fluids which is dimensioned to be inserted within the vaginal passage and to extend a major portion of the length thereof, b. the collector conduit being made of soft resilient pliable material and being open at the top thereof for receiving menstrual fluid discharged at a point above the top of the collector conduit, c. an elongated rigid discharge tube disposed at the lower end of the collector conduit means which is dimensioned to permit passage of menstrual fluid and entrained matter, d. the discharge tube having a length which is a substantial percentage of the length of the collector conduit and has a width of substantially less cross section than that of the collector conduit, e. a plurality of circumferentially disposed lateral flow receiving means disposed along the length of the collector conduit means for passing menstrual fluid into the interior thereof, f. discharge valve means disposed at the lower end of the discharge tube for sealing the lower end of the discharge tube and permitting drainage of menstrual fluid therefrom while the menses collector is in position within the vagina.
 13. The menses collector of claim 12, wherein: a. the flow receiving means includes a plurality of superposed rows of cups.
 14. The menses collector of claim 13, wherein: a. each row includes a plurality of separate radially disposed adjoining cups.
 15. THe menses collector of claim 12, wherein: a. the collecting conduit has a corrugated collapsible configuration, b. the flow receiving means is a series of inlet ports cut through the collecting conduit.
 16. The menses collector as set forth in claim 12, wherein: a. the collector includes insertion means for facilitating insertion of the collector within the vaginal cavity and comprises a rigid cylindrical tube of substantially the same length as the collecting conduit means discharge.
 17. The menses collector as set forth in claim 12, wherein: a. the discharge tube has an outwardly flared valve seat at the lower end thereof, b. the valve means includes a retractable sealing element disposed at the loweR end of the discharge tube and biased into sealing position with respect to the valve seat.
 18. The menses collector as set forth in claim 16, wherein: a. the lower end of the discharge tube is an outwardly flared circular section which comprises the valve seat, b. the valve means includes a ball valve having resilient return means connected thereto at one end and to the discharge tube at the other end for resiliently biasing the ball valve in sealed engagement atainst the flared circular valve seat, c. elongated flexible pull means is connected to the ball valve to permit the user to unseat the ball valve to permit drainage of the central collecting conduit and the discharge tube. 